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Illinois Public Media

South Korea Defeats Jackie Robinson West in LLWS Championship Game

Jae Yeong Hwang drove in two runs and Hae Chan Choi weathered a late Chicago rally to lead South Korea to an 8-4 win in Sunday's Little League World Series championship game.

Hwang gave up one hit in two-plus innings while striking out four.

He also drove in the Asia-Pacific Region champs' first two runs as they built an 8-1 lead before Jackie Robinson West made it close in the team's final at bat.

Choi, who had a homer and scored twice, pitched the last four innings for South Korea, which won its third title after back-to-back championships in 1985 and '85.

International teams have won the last three and four of the last five titles.

Brandon Green went 5 2-3 innings for Chicago, which had survived four straight knockout games before the final.

"Jackie Robinson West has made a legendary run and finished runner-up, placing at the second best spot for any little league team across the world," said Governor Pat Quinn, in a statement. "“Over these past few weeks, communities across the nation came together to watch these young boys from the South Side of Chicago win game after game against the best young ballplayers in the world. Throughout the tournament they have made Illinois proud and represented the very best our state has to offer."